Key locator means



April l2, 1966 w, R G, HAGGSTRQM 3,245,149

KEY LOCATOR MEANS Filed Sepk. l5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y ...Ubu

INVENTOR Muzi: 6TH/16mm ATTORNEY April 12, 1966 w. R. G. HAGGsTRoM 3,245,149

KEY LOCATOR MEANS Filed Sept. l5. 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 1/34 41 14325 T..- mi.-

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aya/IBL @www ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,245,149 KEY LOCATOR MEANS Walter R. G. Haggstrom, Westminster, Mass., assigner to Independent Lock Company, Fitchburg, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Sept. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 396,762 9 Claims. (Cl. 33-174) This invention relates to a locator means, and more particularly to a locator means for accurately positioningakey.

This invention further relates to a locator means for use with a key identifier device or the like, such as is illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 215,- 956, filed August 9, 1962, now Patent No. 3,172,969, issued March 9, 1965, entitled Key Identifier Device and Switch Means Therefor.

In the prior application there is disclosed a device which responds to the cross-sectional milling of a key to be duplicated and closes a selected one of a multiplicity of circuits, depending upon the cross-sectional configuration. As more fully explained in said application, the closed circuit may lbe employed in any suitable manner to facilitate -the selection or automatic dispensing of a key blank which matches the milled `configuration of the inserted key. Briefly stated, the invention of my above noted application eliminates the tedious chore of comparing the cross-section of a key submitted for duplica-` tion with the cross-sections of a wide variety of keys typically stocked by locksmiths as was previously required for the selection of a proper key to be cut.

In the device of the above noted prior application, a multiplicity of measuring members are urged against the lateral faces of a key, the distance of movement of the measuring members controlling the circuitry for the selection of a replacement lblank. Since the device is `adapted to distinguish between key cross-sections which are relatively similar, it will be appreciated that the device must be capable of sensing relatively small dimensional variations. It will be further appreciated, in view of the small tolerances involved, that it is important to position the key which is to be duplicated with extreme accuracy so that the only variations in dimension arise from the key itself and not from any mis-positioning of the key.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a device for automatically accurately positioning a key.

A further object of the invention is the provision of key locator means for use in conjunction with a key identifying device or the like wherein the mere act of insertion of the key into the device serves accurately to locate the key, both heightwise and widthwise, so that the key will be maintained in a predetermined position.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a locator means for a key identifier device or the like wherein keys of a variety of sizes are disposed in precisely predetermined position by the mere act of inserting the key into the device and are held in such predetermined position for subsequent operations.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view looking outwardly toward the front panel of a key identifier device or the like embodying the novel locating means of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view lthrough the device shown with a key in partially inserted position;

FIGURE 3 is a section similar to FIGURE 2 with the key fully inserted;

Patented Apr. l2, i966 FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4--4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5--5 lof FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary magnified perspective view of an element of the locator device.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, there is shown in FIGURE l, front panel 15 of a key identifier device or the like. Since the identifier structure is fully shown in my aforesaid prior filed application, all parts of the identifier per se have been eliminated from the present disclosure.

Formed through the face of the panel 10 is a key entrance slot 11, .to permit access of the blade portion 12 of a key 13. Also supported on the front panel 10 is a rearwardly extending guide rod 14 which spans the distance between the panel 10 and rear panel 15. The guide rod 14, at its forward and rearward ends, includes guide pins 16, 17, disposed within apertures 18 and 19 formed in the panels 10 and 15, respectively. As will be best seen from FIGURE 2, .the lowermost end of the entry slot 11 lies at a level below the upper surface 20 of the guide rod 14.

A locator block 21 is slidably mounted on the guide rod 14. The block includes a lower portion 22 having an axially extending bore 23 which is sleeved over the guide rod 14. A compression spring 24 is biased between the rear face 25 of the lower portion 22 of the locator block, and a boss 26 formed at the rear of the guide rod 14. A yblocking pin 27 extends transversely through and beyond the rod 14, rand limits the forward sliding movement of the locator block with respect to the rod.

The upper portion of the locator block is formed with a longitudinally extending guide slot 30, which slot is engaged by portions of the block aligning assembly 31 next to be described.

The block aligning assembly 31 includes a forward end 32, Ibolted or otherwise suitably fastened to the front plate 10, and a rear end 33 similarly secured to the rear plate 15. The block aligning assembly 31 includes a depending, longitudinally extending rib portion 34 which enters into the guide slot 30 of the block, to assure that the same, in shifting toward and away from the plate 10, cannot rotate relative to the guide rod 14.

The block aligning assembly 31, which may be of integral or laminar structure, as desired, includes a vertically shiftable hold down plunger 35 which is guided on opposed vertically directed ribs 36, 37. The plunger 35 is provided adjacent its forward and rearward ends with vertically extending slots 3S, 39, respectively (see FIGURE 4) which receive the ribs 36, 37, to perform the guiding function.

The lowermost portion 40 of the plunger 35, like the web or rib 34, extends `downwardly into the slot 30 of the locator block and, thus, the block is continuously guided in its forward and rearward travel on the web 34 or, alternatively, on the lowermost portion 40 of the plunger 35. The leading and trailing portions of the lowermost portion 40 of the plunger 35 are formed with cam faces 41, 42, respectively, for purposes which will appear hereafter.

The plunger 35 is biased downwardly by a compression spring 50, the lower end of which presses against the upper surface of the plunger and the upper end of which is seated on centering lug 51 of a suitable cap member 52, bolted or otherwise affixed to the block aligning assembly 31.

As will be seen from comparing FIGURE 2, in which the locator block is in its forwardmost position, and FIGURE 3, which shows the locator block in its rearwardmost position, the range of movement of the locator block is such that some portion thereof is at all times disposed beneath the plunger 35, whereby the plunger may not be shifted entirely downwardly from the guideways to a position clear of the block aligning assembly. The spring member 24 is so balanced with respect to the spring member 5t) that when the locator block 21 is disposed in the rearwardmost position as shown in FIG- URE 3 and the key 13 withdrawn, the spring exerts a suiicient pressure against the cam surface 42 of the plunger to push the plunger upward and cause the spring 50 to be compressed.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, it will be seen that the forward end of the locating block is slotted as at 60, which slotted portion 60 is disposed in registry with the slot 11 of the front panel. The configuration of the slot 69 is an important feature of the present invention. The slot includes a rst vertically directed or reference wall 61, the wall 62 forming the opposed wall of the slot being angularly oriented as respects the wall 61.

Specifically, at the mouth or forward end 63 of the block, the wall 62 is spaced a further distance from the wall 61 and tapers progressively inwardly toward the wall 61 to an apex portion 64. The wall 62 provides a compound cam surface having, in addition to the previously described angular surface, a downward cam component so that at the top 65 of the locator block, the uppermost portion of wall 62 is closer to the uppermost portion of wall 61 than are the'comparable lowermost portions of walls 62 and 61. The spacing of the walls at the innermost or apex portion 64 is such as to be narrower than the gauge of any key which is to be received within the locator mechanism.

From the foregoing it will be understood that when the tip of a key as shown in dot and dash lines in FIGURE 6 is pressed into the slot 60, the key will automatically be urged laterally toward the wall 61 and downwardly, as shown by the arrows in said FIGURE 6.

It will be thus understood that as the key is inserted, the locator block assembly will be shifted rearwardly from the position of FIGURE 2 toward that of FIGURE 3, against the influence of compression spring 24.

There will next be described a hold-in mechanism which functions to maintain the inserted key in position within the locator mechanism to counter-act the outward force exerted by compression spring 24.

AS best seen in FIGURE 1, the compression mechanism comprises a slide member 70 having an inner cam surface 71 located in registry with the slot 11. Guide pins 72, 72 passing through longitudinal slot 73 serve to restrict the movement of the slide member 70 to a horizontal plane. A relatively heavy spring 74 is biased between tail piece 75 of the slide member and a pressure block 76 made fast to the inner face of the front panel. As the key is inserted through the slot 11, the tip of the key engages against cam surface 71 of the slide member 70. Further inward movements of the key serve to cock the slide member, shifting the same from left to right as viewed in FIGURE 1, and pressing the angle portion 77 yieldably against the side of the key. The continued inward movement of the key causes the nose of the key to enter the slot 6ft, with the left hand side of the key as viewed in FIGURE 1 pressed against the compound cam wall 62 of the locator block. As a result of the engagement with this compound cam wall, the n ose of the key will be urged to the left as viewed in FIGURE 1, and the undersurface or base 13a of the key will be urged downwardly against the upper surface 26 of the guide rod 14. With the continued inward movement of the key, it will be seen that the plunger portion 42 will be cammed upwardly by the rearwardly moving locator block, and after the block has passed to a position rearward of the plunger, such as shown in FIG- URE 3, the plunger will itself press downwardly against the upper or bitted surface of the key.

The key may be moved inwardly until the shoulder por-tion 13b of the key is pressed against a reference point, which may be the forward end of the guide rod 14 or may be, if desired, the front face of the panel. Preferably the pressure exerted by the angular portion 77 of the slide member 70 under the influence of spring 74 is sufliciently great to overcome the outward pressure exerted against the tip of the key through the locator block under the influence of the spring 214. Thus, when the key is fully inserted it will not pop outwardly through the slot 11 but will be maintained in inserted position.

In addition to its function of preventing outward shifting of the key, the slide member 70 urges the right hand lateral portion of the blade as viewed in FIGURE 1 against the right hand edge portion 11a of the slot 11, which portion of the slot serves as the lateral reference point adjacent the portion of the key blade remote from the tip. Thus, in the fully inserted position, lateral reference points for accurate positioning of the key are defined by vertical wall 61 of the locator block and the wall 11a of the slot 11, the tip of the key being maintained against wall 61 by the pressure exerted by spring 24 through cam wall 62.

A heightwise orientation of the key is effected by the downward forces exerted against the tip of the key by the compound cam slot 6G and also by the downward :force exercised against the top of the key blade by the plunger 35.

From the foregoing it Will be seen that there is disclosed by the present invention, a device wherein a key blank, when inserted, is automatically perfectly located with respect to any associated apparatus.

It should be noted, and it is an important feature of the invention, that through the use of the locator device of the invention, the key tip is automatically properly positioned during and after the operation lot' inserting the key. This is important since it has been found disadvantageous to rely upon apparatus for reorienting a key after the same has been fully inserted. This is true since it is often possible to mis-position a key and when the mispositioned key is subjected to lateral and downward clamping components, it is possible that one of these components may hold the key in the mis-positioned relationship, thereby frustrating efforts of the other righting component to shift the key from the mis-positioned orientation in which it is held.

The device of the present invention assures that at all times during insertion the key is properly positioned, and thereafter holds the same in the desired position securely against vertical and horizontal reference members.

A further important feature of the invention is that in the fully inserted position of the key, substantially the entire side portions of the key blade are exposed to permit the cross-section indicator sensors of a key sensing device or the like to engage against the key sides.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A key positioner device comprising a longitudinally extending base surface, a xed alignment wall adjacent a forward end of said base surface, said wall being disposed in a plane normal to said surface, a key guide mounted for reciprocal movement parallel with said surface and toward and away from said xed alignment wall, said guide being yieldably urged toward said wall, a second alignment wall formed `on said movable keyguide coplanar with said. xed wall, cam means on said guide in proximate spaced relation to said second wall, said cam means being inclined toward said second wall and toward said surface whereby the nose of a key inserted in said guide between s aid movable wall and cam means is urged laterally against said movable wall and downwardly against said base surface.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1 and including spring biased hold means movable toward and away from said fixed alignment wall for urging a side portion `of a key blade against said fixed wall.

3. A key locator device for use in conjunction with a key profile sensing device or the like comprising a panel, a slot formed through said panel, a guide track member extending rearwardly from said panel, a key support base in registry with said slot, a slide mounted on said track member for reciprocal movement toward and away from said panel, spring means urging said slide toward said panel, a .recess formed in said slide in registry wtih the slot of said panel, said recess including a locator wall in co-planar relation to a side wall of said slot and a compound cam surface inclined toward said locator wall and said key support to urge the nose of a key pressed into said slot laterally against said side wall and downwardly against said support.

4. A key positioning device comprising a panel defining a key receiver slot including a lateral positioning surface, key support means xed with respect to said panel for engaging the bottom of a key and, holding the latter in a predetermined plane, key nose aligning means shiftable toward and away from said positioning surface in a direction parallel to the plane of said key support means, said nose aligning means including a wall surface in co-planar alignment with said positioning surface, and cam surface portions inclined toward said Wall surface and toward said key support means for pressing the nose of a key urged into said. nose aligning means laterally against said wall surface and downwardly against said key support means, the combination including spring means yieldably biasing said nose aligning means toward said lateral positioning surface.

5. A key positioner device comprising a frame, a key support base mounted on said frame, a lateral locator surface adjacent the forward end of sai-d support base and disposed, in a plane normal to the plane of said base, a track member parallel with said base, a key nose positioner reciprocable toward and away from said locator surface on said track member, spring means yieldably pressing said nose positioner toward said locator surface, a lateral alignment wall on said nose positioner in coplanar relationship to said locator surface, cam means on said nose positioner in proximate spaced relation to said alignment wall including surfaces inclined toward said wall and said base for urging the nose of a key inserted in said positioner downwardly toward said base and laterally toward said wall under the reactive iniiuence of said spring as the latter is compressed by insertion 0f a key, and spring loaded. plunger means in opposed relation to and shiftable toward and away from said base for pressing a key disposed beneath said plunger means against said base.

6. A device in accordance with claim 5 wherein said plunger includes leading and trailing cam portions in the path of movement of said nose positioner, said nose positioner and cam portions coacting, on reciprocal movement of said positioner under the influence of a key, to lift said plunger to a portion above said key.

7. A key positioner device comprising a frame, a front panel member on said frame having a key access slot formed therethrough, a lateral alignment shoulder adjacent said slot, a key support base on said frame in registry with said slot and having a support surface disposed normal to the plane rofrsaid alignment shoulder, a key nose orienting member slidably mounted. on said base for movement toward and away from said panel, a hold down plunger movably mounted on said frame in opposed relation to and spring pressed toward said support surface, cooperative cam means on said or-ienting member and plunger for `shifting said plunger clear of the path of a key inserted through said slot as said, orienting member passes between said plunger and said base, spring means yieldingly urging said orienting member toward said panel, positioner cam means on said orienting member in registry with `said slot for aligning a side of the nose of a key inserted into said slot with said alignment shoulder, and the bottom of said key with said support surface, and spring pressed detent means mounted on said panel and movable toward and away from said shoulder for biasing a side edge of said key against said shoulder.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein the biasing force exerted by said detent means is sufficiently great to maintain said key in said slot against the outward biasing influence of said spring means.

9. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said detent means include a cam portion in registry with said slot, whereby a key inserted through said slot engages said cam portion of said detent and thereby biases said detent laterally to permit insertion of said key.

No references cited.

ISAAC LISANN, Primary Examiner.

LEONARD FORMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A KEY POSITIONER DEVICE COMPRISING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BASE SURFACE, A FIXED ALIGNMENT WALL ADJACENT A FORWARD END OF SAID BASE SURFACE, SAID WALL BEING DISPOSED IN A PLANE NORMAL TO SAID SURFACE, A KEY GUIDE MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT PARALLEL WITH SAID SURFACE AND TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID FIXED ALIGNMENT WALL, SAID GUIDE BEING YIELDABLY URGED TOWARD SAID WALL, A SECOND ALIGNMENT WALL FORMED ON SAID MOVABLE KEY GUIDE COPLANAR WITH SAID FIXED WALL, CAM MEANS ON SAID GUIDE IN 